Sponsoring a Skilled Worker After July 2025

Major changes are coming into effect for UK employers sponsoring overseas workers under the Skilled Worker visa route from 22 July 2025. If you’re an employer seeking to fill vacancies with skilled migrant workers, or a migrant aiming to secure UK employment, understanding this revised sponsorship landscape is critical.

This comprehensive guide unpacks everything you need to know about sponsoring a Skilled Worker after July 2025, including the new skill and salary thresholds, restrictions on care workers, and the updated sponsorship requirements.

What Is the Skilled Worker Route?

The Skilled Worker visa is the main immigration route for overseas nationals to work in the UK. It enables UK-based employers to recruit workers to fill eligible skilled roles across sectors—from engineering and healthcare to IT and education.

A worker applying under this route must:

• Have a job offer from a UK employer who holds a Home Office-approved sponsor licence;
• Be working in an eligible occupation skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (graduate level) unless transitional rules or listed exemptions apply;
• Meet the salary threshold;
• Satisfy English language, financial, and genuineness requirements.

New Requirements from 22 July 2025

Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned on or after 22 July 2025 are subject to the updated rules. These include:

• 🔺 Raising the minimum skill level from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6 (graduate level);
• 🚫 Ending overseas applications from care workers and senior care workers;
• 💰 Increasing salary thresholds across all routes.

Who Can Be Sponsored After 22 July 2025?

To be eligible for sponsorship under the revised Skilled Worker route, the role must be:

✅ Skilled to RQF Level 6 or above,
✅ OR listed on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List,
✅ OR meet specific transitional provisions for lower-skilled roles assigned before 22 July 2025.

❌ Care Workers and Senior Care Workers

From 22 July 2025:

• Overseas care workers (SOC code 6135) and senior care workers (SOC code 6136) can no longer be sponsored for new UK visas.
• These changes reflect the UK government’s objective to reduce reliance on low-wage migration and drive domestic recruitment.

Sponsorship Requirements for Employers

To sponsor a Skilled Worker, employers must:

• 🔹 Hold a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence;
• 🔹 Only assign CoS for genuine job roles that meet the skill and salary thresholds;
• 🔹 Ensure the worker meets the immigration eligibility requirements;
• 🔹 Assign the correct type of CoS (Defined or Undefined);
• 🔹 Keep records of recruitment and employment, in line with Appendix D;
• 🔹 Pay the Immigration Skills Charge and any applicable CoS fees;
• 🔹 Appoint eligible Key Personnel to manage the licence;
• 🔹 Understand and comply with all sponsor duties, including reporting and record-keeping obligations.

Immigration Criteria for Skilled Workers

A worker must score 70 points to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, based on:

Additional Mandatory Criteria (Non-points based):

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Meet the genuineness and financial requirements;
• Provide criminal record certificates (if required);
• Get consent if previously a sponsored student;
• Meet rules on entry clearance, extension, or switching.

Understanding the Updated Skill Level Requirement

From 22 July 2025, the standard minimum skill level increases to RQF Level 6. That means the sponsored job must typically be a graduate-level role. The occupation must be listed in:

• Table 1, 2, or 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

👉 The worker does NOT need a degree—but the role must be skilled to degree level.

Exceptions: When Lower-Skilled Jobs Can Still Be Sponsored

Jobs below RQF Level 6 may be eligible only if:

• They appear on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List;
• The role is listed in Table 1a, 2a, 2aa or 3a and meets a transitional provision;
• The worker continues in the same job with the same sponsor from before July 2025.

Salary Thresholds From 22 July 2025: What You Must Pay

Salaries must meet specific minimum levels, varying by sector and the worker’s circumstances. Here’s a breakdown:

🔹 Options A to E: General Thresholds

🔹 Options F to J: Health and Care or Transitional Provisions

⚠️ Note: All salary calculations are based on Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data, and £17.13/hour is the minimum hourly wage, even after discounts.

What Employers Must Avoid: Sham Roles and Misuse

The Home Office will refuse a Skilled Worker application and potentially revoke your sponsor licence if:

• The job does not exist;
• The role is a sham or fabricated;
• The position was created only to facilitate immigration.

👉 Make sure every Certificate of Sponsorship you assign is backed by a genuine vacancy.

The Bottom Line: Prepare for July 2025 Now

The post-July 2025 Skilled Worker rules mark a radical shift in UK immigration policy, especially for care sector recruitment. Employers must act proactively to:

• Audit current roles and salary structures;
• Reassess eligibility of positions you plan to sponsor;
• Review your licence and compliance records;
• Train Key Personnel on new rules and responsibilities.

If you’re unsure whether your planned role meets the RQF Level 6 threshold, or how to structure salary packages, seek advice from an immigration law expert.

✅ Need Help Sponsoring a Skilled Worker After July 2025?

Our team of expert immigration solicitors can help you:

• Determine job eligibility under the updated guidance;
• Navigate CoS assignments and visa applications;
• Ensure compliance with sponsor obligations;
• Secure a new sponsor licence if you don’t already have one.

📞 Contact us today for a free consultation and ensure your business is ready for the changes.

FAQs

Q1: Can I still sponsor care workers after July 2025?
A: No. Overseas care workers and senior care workers can no longer be sponsored unless a transitional provision applies.

Q2: Do I need to pay £41,700 for all Skilled Workers?
A: Not necessarily. Some roles qualify for discounted salary thresholds based on occupation type, academic qualifications, or new entrant status.

Q3: Is a degree required for the worker?
A: No. The job must be skilled to RQF Level 6, but the worker is not required to hold a graduate-level qualification.

Q4: Can transitional workers remain in the UK?
A: Yes. Workers sponsored before 22 July 2025 in lower-skilled roles may continue under transitional provisions.

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